Coaches Corner

Soccer Awareness training develops SELF THINKING players who are not coach driven; but coach guided, and within this they are allowed to make mistakes without criticism; but rather; encouraged to learn from them.

Welcome to the Soccer Awareness Coaches Corner. Browse through soccer drills, small sided games, tactical thoughts, full sessions and a variety of resources. Posts marked “Training Center Exclusive” are for members only.

Soccer Awareness has partnered with Edufii to provide unlimited access to Wayne Harrison's Soccer Awareness systems, in a private mobile TrainingSpace, where Wayne will share his training processes, answer your questions and collaborate with other coaches at all levels.

Wayne's system helps develop world class youth soccer players and teams in a systematic and imaginative manner that guarantees performance at the highest level of competition.

Here we show how to overload one side of the field to leave the other side open to catch opponents with a very fast switch of play. Rather than player rotation; this is BALL rotation and retention.

Attacking Setup

Start positions for the attack players forming big spaces between each other to open up passing lanes. We get as BIG as possible. We will next begin to overload one side of the field and make it the strong side.

Drawing Defenders Towards the Ball

We play (11) in wide but keep players on the weak side of the field wide and open. We want to draw the opponents towards the ball with our initial movements of players close to the ball and drawing them away from the WEAK side. Now here you see (2) and (7) almost forgotten and on the BLIND / WEAK SIDE of play.

Switching the Point of Attack

Now we play two very fast passes to change the point of attack and we see (8) getting involved also on the blind / weak side of the field catching the opponents off guard.

Being Patient to Create the Switch

We may even keep the ball there for a few passes to draw them in even more and being patient and showing no interest for the other side of the field. Then we hit them hard with the fast switch of play and we have 3 players in wide open space to attack the goal.

Now Showing Defenders Obvious Recovery Runs for Clarity

Now (2) overlaps (7) to get into a crossing position and in the meantime as the switch is happening (8), (9), (10) and (11) get in finishing positions in and around the box. (6) ready to drop back in should the opponents win the ball and counter attack.

Soccer Awareness

Soccer Awareness developmental training focuses on the concept of the THIRD EYE of Awareness, Imagination and Anticipation in Performance. Soccer Awareness is a highly innovative concept which aims to develop the thinking coach and player. Soccer Awareness focuses on the creation of a player centered environment which encourages autonomy and an ability to make correct decisions within a game specific context.